Michigan Supreme Court won't hear Point West I appeal

Point West I opponents have run out of legal options to stop the Macatawa Park development.

Staff report

Point West I opponents have run out of legal options to stop the Macatawa Park development.

The Michigan Supreme Court said on Monday it would not hear the appeal filed by Macatawa Area Residents for Fair Development.

"We’re disappointed that the Michigan Supreme Court did not agree with our position and provide us a full hearing on the density issue," MARFD President Dan Mitchell. "However, we remain hopeful that the developers will continue to fine tune their plan on density so everyone can continue to enjoy what the residents here believe is a beautiful gem of Michigan’s shoreline."

MARFD’s suit said the township did not interpret its zoning laws correctly when it allowed Point West to plan for 40 residential units on the peninsula. The group maintains the Circuit Court failed to review the case "without deference to the Townships interpretation."

Last year, the Circuit Court rejected the group’s claims and the Michigan Court of Appeals declined to hear the resident group's appeal. It was highly unlikely the state supreme court would hear a case after the appeals court had already declined to hear it.

"Every public body that has looked at this issue has unequivocally said that our residential development complies with all applicable laws, and we are pleased that the Michigan Supreme Court agreed," Point West Owner's Representative Mark Harmsen said in a prepared statement. "We have had several prospective buyers on the sidelines waiting for this zoning challenge to be completed."